Arsenal midfielder is close to returning to full training after surgery
Fabio Vieira, an Arsenal midfielder, is hoping to be included in the team for next week’s opening leg of the Gunners’ Champions League last-16 match in Porto.
Vieira had groin surgery in November, but he is getting better and getting closer to going back to training full time.
The 23-year-old, who hasn’t played in three months, is hopeful he can return within the next week.
Arsenal will benefit from Vieira’s return as they have recently suffered greatly from midfield ailments.
Due to an ankle injury, Emile Smith Rowe was unable to play in Sunday’s victory over West Ham, and Thomas Partey is currently recovering from a thigh injury sustained in October.
Due to this, last weekend Arteta was compelled to start three academy youngsters on the bench. Ethan Nwaneri, 16, entered the game to play the final fifteen minutes in midfield.
Prior to his injury, Vieira had appeared in eight of Arsenal’s thirteen Premier League games. In October, he scored in a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United.
Three days after being sent off in his final League match for the Gunners, a 3-1 victory over Burnley in November, he returned to action and scored for the team’s Under-21 squad.
Earlier in the season, Vieira had been experiencing groin pain, but the initial thought was that the problem might be resolved without surgery.
